Roller skate and skate board

ABSTRACT

A roller skate or skate board that has a steering and shock absorbing suspension for the wheels ( 57, 58 ), characterized by an axle and pivot unit ( 24, 38, 39 ) that is partially embedded in a shock absorber ( 2, 13, 23, 27 ) that extends longitudinally in the direction of the pivot axis, held in a bracket that is mounted to the roller skate or skateboard with the pivot at an acute angle to a sole plate of the roller skate or skateboard.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention lies in the field of roller skates and skateboards.

BACKGROUND

Several designs have been attempted that allow skates to both run on acurved path under control of the skater and to improve the “feel” of theskate by absorbing shocks from the skating surface. Examples of theseare described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,086,557, U.S. Pat. No. 3,087,739 andthe present inventor's published patent application GB 2 416 313 A.Similarly designs have been made for skate boards, for example describedin U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,752 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,666. These designshave generally been based on support of the wheel axles by resilientmeans which is constrained to allow movement of the axles uponcompression of the resilient means in a direction inclined from thevertical which introduces a component of horizontal movement and hence asteering effect of the axles.

THE INVENTION

A roller skate or skate board in accordance with this invention ischaracterized by the assembly of a unit including a rigidly joined axleand pivot, a shock absorber extending co-axially with the pivot andsubstantially wholly embedding the pivot and a bracket, the bracketmounting the shock absorber and axle and pivot unit on a sole plate ofthe skate or skateboard with the pivot at an acute angle to the soleplate.

Further in accordance with the invention there is provided an assemblyadapted for mounting on a roller skate or skateboard consisting of aunit comprising a rigidly joined axle and pivot, a shock absorberextending co-axially with the pivot and substantially wholly embeddingthe pivot and a bracket.

Generally there will be two such assemblies in a skate or skateboard,one for a front axle and the other for a rear axle, which will provide asteering effect on both axles, however, the invention may be implementedwith only one such assembly.

The assembly may conveniently be mounted on a sole plate for the skatebut alternatively the bracket may be mounted directly to a sole of aboot of the roller skate or a sole plate may be incorporated in theboot.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention a pair of side platesare added to the assembly, designed to hold the shock absorber withembedded axle and pivot unit in the bracket. The side plates may haveflanges to enhance their holding action.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention dual sideplates are provided that span between two assemblies, each assemblybeing of a unit comprising a rigidly joined axle and pivot, a shockabsorber extending co-axially with the pivot and substantially whollyembedding the pivot and a bracket, each bracket mounting the shockabsorber and axle and pivot unit.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention the bracket mayhave a split that allows the bracket to be partially opened tofacilitate insertion of the shock absorber with embedded axle and pivotunit with a bolt to then close the split.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention the bracketmounts an upper region of the shock absorber with embedded axle andpivot unit with a lower bracket mounting a lower region of the shockabsorber with embedded axle and pivot unit, the bracket and lowerbracket fixed to the sole plate of the skate or skateboard.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention a dual lowerbracket is provided that spans between two assemblies, each assemblybeing of a unit comprising a rigidly joined axle and pivot, a shockabsorber extending co-axially with the pivot and substantially whollyembedding the pivot and a bracket, each bracket mounting the shockabsorber and axle and pivot unit on a sole plate of the skate orskateboard with the pivot at an acute angle to the sole plate and thedual lower bracket mounting the lower regions of the shock absorber andaxle and pivot unit.

In accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention twobrackets are integrally formed as one component forming also the soleplate, each bracket mounting a shock absorber and axle and pivot unitwith the pivot at an acute angle to the sole plate.

The assembly may incorporate a brake pad or provision for attachment ofa brake pad.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the unitincluding an axle and pivot also incorporates a flange orientedorthogonally to an axis of the pivot.

The pivot may be formed as a solid rod, a tube or a folded sheet metal.

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly for mounting on a skate,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1 with theparts separated,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dual assembly for mounting on a skate,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 3 with theparts separated,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another assembly for mounting on askate,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 5 with theparts separated,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another dual assembly for mounting on askate, shown with some of the parts separated,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 7 with someof the parts separated,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another dual assembly for mounting on askate,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 9 with someof the parts separated,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another dual assembly for mounting on askate,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 11, withsome of the parts separated,

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of another dual assembly for mounting ona skate,

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 11A, withsome of the parts separated,

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another dual assembly for mounting on askate,

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 13 with someof the parts separated,

FIGS. 15 to 18 are perspective views showing parts of the assembly shownin FIGS. 13 and 14,

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another dual assembly shown mounted ona skate,

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 19 with someof the parts separated,

FIGS. 21 and 22 are perspective views showing the steering effect of theassembly on a skate.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an assembly of a unit “A” including a rigidly joined axle 6and pivot 5, a shock absorber 2 extending co-axially with the pivot andsubstantially wholly embedding the pivot, a bracket 1 and the unitincluding the axle 6 and pivot 5 also incorporates a flange 4 orientedorthogonally to the axis of the pivot.

FIG. 2 shows the separated parts of the assembly, the axle and pivot aremade of a high strength metal such as a suitable grade of steel, theshock absorber is a resilient material such as a natural or syntheticrubber such as a butadiene polymer or a suitable grade of polyurethaneetc and the bracket may be cast from a light alloy such as an aluminiumalloy or a suitable hard and shock resistant polymer or engineeringplastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrenes, polycarbonates orpolyamides. The assembly is achieved by pushing the shock absorber intothe recess 7 of the bracket and then the pivot is inserted into the bore2 a of the shock absorber until the axle slides over the protrusions 8of the bracket.

The bracket is to be mounted on a sole plate of a roller skate or askateboard with the pivot at an acute angle to the sole plate (a soleplate is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, for example).

The assembly may conveniently be mounted on a sole plate for the skatebut alternatively the bracket may be mounted directly to a sole of aboot of the roller skate or a sole plate may be incorporated in theboot, an example is shown in FIGS. 19 and 20.

FIG. 3 shows an assembly and FIG. 4 the separated parts which aresimilar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the same reference numeralsare used for these. The differences are that the bracket 11 does nothave the protrusions 8 and instead bolts 9 hold a pair of side plates 10to the brackets 11, designed to hold the shock absorber 13 with embeddedaxle 2 and pivot 3 in the bracket. The side plates have flanges 10 a toenhance their holding action. Another difference is that the pivot 3instead of being formed as a solid rod is formed as a folded sheet metaland the flange 14 has minor differences from the flange 4. (In the viewof FIG. 3 the shock absorber and embedded axle and pivot are not shownassembled for illustration value). The side plates span between twoassemblies, and thus also set the two assemblies ready for mounting atthe surfaces 11 a of the brackets to a sole plate or sole of a rollerskate boot. The recess 12 in each bracket set the acute angle of thepivot to the plane in which the surfaces 11 a of the brackets lie andthe plane of the sole plate/boot sole. The angle faces one way in onebracket and the other in the other bracket so that the axles turn inopposite directions when the skater leans into a turn and flexes thesole into the turn.

FIG. 5 shows an assembly and FIG. 6 the separated parts where thebracket 17 has a split 18 that allows the bracket to be partially openedto facilitate insertion of the shock absorber 15 with embedded axle 6and pivot 5 unit with a bolt 21 to then close the split. Other parts arethe flange 19 and protrusions 20.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a sole plate 22 a that has a web 22 with mountingformations 22 b for mounting upper brackets 26 formed to mount an upperregion of the shock absorber 23 at each end, with embedded axle 6 andpivot 5 and a lower bracket 25 mounting a lower region of the shockabsorber. The upper brackets are held by screws 25 a and the lowerbrackets by screws 26 a. Pivot and axle unit is indicated by numeral 24.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a dual lower bracket 33 that spans between twoassemblies, each assembly being of the unit comprising the rigidly,joined axle 29 and pivot 30, a shock absorber 27 and the dual lowerbracket 31 a mounting the lower regions of the shock absorbers and axleand pivot units. The view also shows a sole plate 32 that haspermanently fixed to it brackets 31 which receive the shock absorbers27. Bolts 33 a pass through the lower brackets, through spacers 27 a andplates 32 a. The pivot in this example is in the form of a tube. Theshock absorber has a split 28 to allow it to be stretched onto the axleand pivot. The web of the lower bracket 33 serves as a grind plate forsliding over obstacles.

FIGS. 11 and 12 shows two brackets integrally formed as one component 34forming also the sole plate surface 40, each bracket mounting a shockabsorber 34 a and axle and pivot units 38 and 39 with the pivot at anacute angle to the sole plate. A dual lower bracket 35 spans between twoassemblies and is bolted by bolts 36. The bolts 36 screw into Tee nuts37 which are used to securely attach the boot to the sole plate.

FIGS. 11A and 12A show the brackets 34 as separate though held togetherby the lower bracket 35. These figures also show a brake pad 48 withhole 16 through it.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show another arrangement of an assembly of a unitincluding a rigidly joined axle and pivot, a shock absorber extendingco-axially with the pivot and substantially wholly embedding the pivotand a bracket 41. The arrangement also has the sole plate 45 with smallblocks 44 and dual lower bracket 42 with U-bolts 43 that hold the soleplate, brackets and lower bracket together with shock absorbers and axleand pivot units incorporated. The design also has a brake pad 46provided by a modified bracket.

FIGS. 15 to 18 show the brake pad arrangement, the pad 46 has grooves 50that engage with ridges 49 of the modified bracket 47, with a clip 51 tosecure the connection by clipping into a recess 52.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show a roller skate (the wheels are omitted tofacilitate illustration) where brackets 54 are attached to a sole plate56 by bolts 53 which hold a dual lower bracket 55. The shock absorbersand axle and pivot units are incorporated in the assembly.

FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate the turning action of the skates, the wheels57 and 58 turn relative to the skate 56 producing a turn as indicated bythe arrow 59.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 bracket-   2 shock absorber-   2 a bore of shock absorber-   4 flange-   5 pivot-   6 axle-   7 recess-   8 protrusions-   9 bolts-   10 side plates-   10 a side plate flanges-   11 bracket-   11 a bracket surfaces-   12 recess-   13 shock absorber-   14 flange-   15 shock absorber-   16 hole-   17 bracket-   18 split-   19 flange-   20 protrusions-   21 bolt-   22 web-   22 a sole plate-   22 b mounting formations-   23 shock absorber-   24 pivot and axle unit-   25 lower bracket-   25 a screws-   26 upper brackets-   26 a screws-   27 shock absorber-   27 a spacers-   28 split-   29 axle-   30 pivot-   31 brackets-   31 a dual lower bracket-   32 sole plate-   32 a plates-   33 dual lower bracket-   33 a bolts-   34 integral brackets-   34 a bracket mounting shock absorber-   35 dual lower bracket-   36 bolts-   37 tee nuts-   38 axle and pivot unit-   39 axle and pivot unit-   40 sole plate surface-   41 bracket-   42 dual lower bracket-   43 U-bolts-   44 small blocks-   45 sole plate-   46 brake pad-   47 bracket-   48 brake pad-   49 ridges-   50 grooves-   51 clip-   52 recess-   53 bolts-   54 brackets-   55 dual lower bracket-   56 sole plate-   57 wheels-   58 wheels-   56 Skate-   59 arrow

1. A roller skate or skate board comprising an assembly of a unitincluding a rigidly joined axle and pivot, a shock absorber extendingco-axially with the pivot and substantially wholly embedding the pivotand a bracket, the bracket mounting the shock absorber and the axle andpivot unit on a sole plate of the skate or skateboard with the pivot atan acute angle to the sole plate.
 2. An assembly adapted for mounting ona roller skate or skateboard comprising a unit comprising a rigidlyjoined axle and pivot, a shock absorber extending co-axially with thepivot and substantially wholly embedding the pivot and a bracket whichmounts the shock absorber with axle and pivot.
 3. An assembly as claimedin claim 2, wherein the unit including an axle and pivot alsoincorporates a flange oriented orthogonally to an axis of the pivot. 4.A roller skate or skate board as claimed in claim 1, that comprises twoassemblies as claimed, one for a front axle and the other for a rearaxle, which will provide a steering effect on both axles.
 5. Theassembly in claim 3, wherein the assembly is affixed on a sole plate fora roller skate or a skate board.
 6. A roller skate or skate board asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of side plates are added to theassembly, designed to hold the shock absorber with embedded axle andpivot unit in the bracket.
 7. A roller skate or skate board as claimedin claim 6, wherein the side plates have flanges to enhance theirholding action.
 8. A roller skate or skate board as claimed in claim 7,wherein dual side plates are provided that span between two assemblies,each assembly being of a unit comprising a rigidly joined axle andpivot, a shock absorber extending co-axially with the pivot andsubstantially wholly embedding the pivot and a bracket, each bracketmounting the shock absorber and axle and pivot unit.
 9. A roller skateor skate board as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bracket has a splitthat allows the bracket to be partially opened to facilitate insertionof the shock absorber with embedded axle and pivot unit with a bolt tothen close the split.
 10. A roller skate or skate board as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the bracket mounts an upper region of the shockabsorber with embedded axle and pivot unit with a lower bracket mountinga lower region of the shock absorber with embedded axle and pivot unit,the bracket and lower bracket fixed to the sole plate of the skate orskateboard.
 11. A roller skate or skate board as claimed in claim 4,wherein a dual lower bracket is provided that spans between twoassemblies, each assembly being of a unit comprising a rigidly joinedaxle and pivot, a shock absorber extending co-axially with the pivot andsubstantially wholly embedding the pivot and a bracket; each bracketmounting the shock absorber and axle and pivot unit on a sole plate ofthe skate or skateboard with the pivot at an acute angle to the soleplate; and the dual lower bracket mounting the lower regions of theshock absorber and axle and pivot unit.
 12. A roller skate or skateboard as claimed in claim 11, wherein two brackets are integrally formedas one component forming also the sole plate, each bracket mounting ashock absorber and axle and pivot unit with the pivot at an acute angleto the sole plate.
 13. A roller skate or skate board as claimed in claim12, wherein the assembly incorporates a brake pad or provision forattachment of a brake pad.
 14. A roller skate or skate board as claimedin claim 1, wherein the pivot is formed as a solid rod, a tube or afolded sheet metal.
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